2026 Critter Crew Field Trips

January 28th @ 4:00pm - Hi-Tech Dairy Supply Inc.

9975 56th Ave., Allendale, Michigan 49401

We’re heading out on a field trip to Hi-Tech Dairy! During our visit, we’ll learn about the installation, maintenance, and upkeep of milking equipment used on dairy farms across West Michigan, including systems like the robotic milking setup we saw at Dream Winds Dairy. Chad, the General Manager, will give us a tour of their shop and talk through the wide range of career opportunities available on the technical side of the dairy industry.

Learn more about Hi-Tech Dairy here: www.hi-techdairy.com/

Meet at the location. Parents encouraged, but not required. Please RSVP for everyone attending. 

February 19th @ 4:00pm - Renew Therapeutic Riding Center

5080 146th Ave, Holland, MI 49423

Join us for a field trip to Renew Therapeutic Riding Center, an organization that serves our community through the physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits of horsemanship. Renew uses the unique connection between people and horses to support individuals of all abilities and backgrounds. During our visit, we will tour their new facility, meet the horses in their herd, and learn how therapeutic riding and horsemanship programs are making a positive impact in our community.

Learn more about Renew here: https://renewtrc.org/

Meet at the location. Parents encouraged, but not required. Please RSVP for everyone attending. 

March 24th @ 4:00pm - John Ball Zoo Commissary

1439 Butterworth St SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Join us for a behind-the-scenes visit to the John Ball Zoo Commissary, the central “kitchen” where daily meals are prepared for hundreds of animals. During our tour, we will see how specialized diets are carefully planned and prepared to meet the unique nutritional needs of each species. This includes weighing ingredients, chopping fruits and vegetables, mixing feeds, and managing inventory to ensure every animal receives precise nutrition to support their health and well-being. Commissary staff will show us around the facility and talk with us about the vital role animal nutrition plays in overall animal care and zoo management.

Learn more about John Ball Zoo here: https://jbzoo.org/

Meet at the location. Parents encouraged, but not required. Please RSVP for everyone attending. 

April 14th @ 3:30pm - Zeeland Farm Services

2525 84th Ave, Zeeland, MI 49464

Join us for a visit to Zeeland Farm Services (ZFS), a family-owned and operated business with over seven decades of service to the agricultural and transportation industries. ZFS plays a key role in agriculture by providing grain handling, feed ingredients, seed services, elevator operations, a soybean processing plant, and export services. Our visit will begin in the ZFS boardroom with a couple of short videos and a discussion to give us a basic understanding of what ZFS does and how it supports farmers and the ag industry. We will also learn about the variety of career opportunities available at ZFS. After the discussion, we will take a guided tour of the facility to see these operations in action.

Learn more about ZFS here: www.zfsinc.com/

Meet at the location. Parents encouraged, but not required. Please RSVP for everyone attending.